The Gospel According to St Matthew

Chapter 19

Jesus teaches about marriage and divorce—Eternal life is for those who keep the commandments—The Twelve Apostles will judge the house of Israel.

1 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judæa beyond Jordan;

2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

3 ¶The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to aput away his wife for every cause?

4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which amadethem at the beginning made them male and female,

5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall acleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath ajoined together, let not man bput asunder.

7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a awriting of bdivorcement, and to put her away?

8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the ahardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your bwives: but from the beginning it was not so.

9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for afornication, and shall marry another, committeth badultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

10 ¶His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

13 ¶Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put hisahands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked bthem.

14 But Jesus said, aSuffer little bchildren, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

16 ¶And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have aeternal life?

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none agood but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into blife, keep the ccommandments.

20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be aperfect, go and sell that thou hast, and bgive to the cpoor, and thou shalt have dtreasure in heaven: and come andefollow me.

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had agreat possessions.

23 ¶Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a arich man shall bhardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a arich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

26 aBut Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are bpossible.

27 ¶Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the aregeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, bjudging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And every one that hath aforsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my bname’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit ceverlasting life.

30 But many that areafirst shall be last; and the last shall be first.